“You really think this thing with him is going to last? You don’t even know him.” His hands are now on his hips. Is this asshole for real?
“Well, considering I knew you practically all my life and you still fucked me over and cheated on me when I trusted you, what is the worst that can happen?” I cock my head sideways. “Right.”
“It was a mistake,” James whispers. “I want it back. I want my family back.”
I put my hand up, palm to his face. “James, I’m going to be honest with you. Even if Cooper weren’t here, it would never happen. You and me are never ever going to be an us again,” I say, trying not to raise my voice. “Ever.”
“What do you want me to do to convince you that I’m sorry?”
Is he insane?
“I want you to get in your car and go back to your fiancée. While I go upstairs and tell the kids that I will be marrying Cooper. That’s what I want from you. I want you to wish me well, I want you to continue to co-parent with me, but most of all I want you to get the idea of me and you never getting back together.” I go to the door and open it so he gets the hint that I want him out of my fucking house. Our fucking house.
Just then, I see Meghan and Tom, who is holding both of their children while walking up the steps. Jesus Christ, is anyone sleeping in today?
“Parker,” Meghan says. “Douchebag.” She turns to James, walking past him. Tom doesn’t say anything, just nods while he walks in, putting both kids down to run.
They make it around the corner before she has time to ask any questions.
“I think you’d better go,” I tell James. “If you want, you can call the kids later.”
“I want you to be happy,” he says. “After everything you went through, I just want you happy.”
“Then let me be happy because he makes me happy.”
No other words are necessary because he walks out of the house. I don’t even wait to see him get in his car before I hear the kids run down from upstairs. Allison is screaming as she rounds the corner and sees the tree.
Cooper makes his way to me.
“Everything okay?” His thumb finds my chin, tipping it up.
“Yup, just fine. He’s happy for us. Kind of, a little, it’ll come,” I say while I laugh because this shit has to be fucking funny.
“Mom,” Allison sings. “Uncle Tom is holding your bra and underwear away from Auntie Meghan.”
My eyes pop almost out of my head, and I try to bury my head in Cooper’s shaking chest.
“Oh my God, did you not clean up this morning?” I say from his chest.
He can’t stop laughing.
“Mom, why are all your clothes downstairs near the tree?” Allison asks when she sees us. Matthew is in the back, groaning with disgust, while Tom holds up my bra and thong, smiling, and Meghan is trying to snatch them out of his hands.
“Hey, guess what?” I say. “We are getting married.” No time like the present, right?
Allison and Matthew rush to Cooper and me. Allison jumps into Cooper’s arms, and my boy comes to my side.
“Happy, Mom?” he whispers to me.
I turn to look at my boy with tears in my eyes. “Besides you and your sister, this is the happiest thing ever.”
Cooper’s arms reach around me, grabbing Matthew’s shoulder, squeezing.
“I want a white dress and a crown,” Allison states.
“You can get whatever you like,” Cooper says, and I know that he will give her whatever she wants.
“Okay, I’m out of commission but, I think it’s time to pop that bottle of champagne that has been sitting in this bucket all night,” Meghan says.
“It’s eight a.m.” I shake my head at her.
“Mimosa time,” Meghan states.
I shake my head and look at Cooper. “You sure about this? Because look at the family I’m with.” I point my head at Meghan and Tom.
“Wouldn’t want anything else.” He leans down, kissing me.
Yup, this is really what he wants. It’s for the better and worse, right?
Standing in the bathroom looking at myself in the mirror, I try to calm myself down. After drinking more than I care to admit at eight a.m., we celebrated having pancakes. It was everything I could ever ask for.
But now ten hours later, I’m getting ready to attend the annual team’s Christmas party. When Cooper brought it up, I can’t lie and say that I was excited, because I wasn’t.
Knowing that Monica and her father will be there makes my stomach roll. Monica stays clear of me when I’m around, but of course, her mean girl posse still takes the extra dab to state it’s the wives’ room.